Climber



Nov. 14, 1944.

R. L wojoDpuRY CLMBER Filed Ma'ch 27, 1944 ill Il y Patented Nov. 14, 1944 l f l l l cLlMEn Robert Liwooabury, Lirohoela, conn. Application Moron l2'1, ,1944, serial No. 528,260 .f Y' `ifoloniosf (01.,.227-2n 3 v-4(Grantedunder the act of March 3, 1883, as

` amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 7.57)

,The invention .describedhereim if patented, may be manufactured and used by or lfor the Government for governmental purposes, without thel payment to me of'any royalty thereon. y

for engaging the sole of the .instep of the shoeof theruser, a shank extendngrearwardly and up@ wardly from the outside terminal of the tread, and a yspur orgai extending downwardly .from the opposed yor inside terminal ofthe tread, and

means for securing.l the climbing iron to the yfooi and citiiciency- "This is especially true in the equipment'for membersofgroups that operate in jungles or othergremote locations. In jungle warfare, `or in establishing remote communication systems, climbing irons or .spurs are frequently required to climb trees, poles and the like. Linesmen who are required to remain supported vin an'elevated position by climbing irons for relatively long periods ofv time, usually prefer heavy irons which have heavy Shanks extending a considerable distance up the leg. 'Each shank is secured to the legby a heavy strap and, u sually, a thick pad is Vinterposed between the shank and the trouser leg to protect the leg against injury 'from the shank of the iron. Under conditions in which the greater portion of a linesmans `or mechanics time is spent on the ground, and only relatively short periods of time are utilized in climbing,`the conventionalv heavy climbing irons or spurs are not required,. but, on the contrary, small or light irons arey greatly preferred.-

An objectl of this invention lisy to provide ay climbing iron which is relatively small and of and leg of the user. i o

kA more specic object of this inventionA is to provide a climbngiron having a foot support or tread for engaging the sole of the instep ofthe shoe of the user and having eyes formed therein, a shank extending rearwardly and upwardly from a' terminalof the tread., a spur extending down-v wardly from the opposedterminal of the treada loop on the shank, a'strap adaptedto pass through the eyes oi"` the tread and engage` the shoe of vthe' user tosecure the tread to the instep portion of the shoe, and a strap adapted to pass through the loopon the shank and engageotheleg or leg cov ering of the user tosecure the shank to the leg, the strap .resisting the stress imposed on the shank by the weight of the user resting onfthev tread While the spur is supported against downward movement.

n is also an object of uns invention to provide a climber. of generally improved construction,

whereby the device will be simple, `durable and in-A expensive-in construction', as well as convenient, practical, v serviceable and elcient in its use.

AWith the foregoing and other objects in view.

f' which will appear as the description proceeds,

little weight, but one which is strong and durable and which may be vconveniently secured to the foot and leg of the user.' Y

Another object of this invention is 'to provide a relatively strong and light climbing iron which is constructed and arranged to distribute the stresses resulting from the imposition of the users weight upon the iron, so that no ldiscomfort is i caused by its use lin ascendingor descending trees,

poles-and the like.

' A further object of this invention is to provide P a climbing iron havingV a foot support or tread the invention resides in the combination. and arrangement of parts and details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being undery stood that various changes in form, proportion and minor'details of construction may b e made within `the scope of the claimsfwithout departing lfrom the spirit or sacrificing any advantages 'ol the invention. L

'For-,a complete disclosure of the invention,"a detailed description thereof will now be given in connection with the vaccompanying drawing form- 'ing a part of the speciiicatiomwherein:

Fig, lisa side climbing iron; Y, y Y l v D Fig.'"2 isa front view thereof, parts appearing in sections;I u

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, looking in the `oppof site direction fromiifig.` 1';

Fig. 4 is a plan'view;

elevation of the improvednright une 5 5 ormai; and

Fig'. Sis a perspective View depicting the appli# o ing iron'tothefeet'and legs ofthe user, .4 l Referringto the drawing', in which correspond;

cation of a 'right climbing iron anda left climb-r,-

Fig. 5 isa transverseY sectionalview taken on a ing parts are indicatedby similar reference characters, there is depicted a climbing iron or spur I which includes a curved or arcuate foot support or tread II formed of relatively thick material, anda portion of the tread is cutaway to provide material for a spur or gaff I2. The spur I2 extends downwardly and slightly outwardly relative to the tread I I, as best seen in Fig. 2, and it is preferably V-shaped, as best seen in Figs. l and 3, with a piercing point I5 formed at its lower terminal. A'sharp edge IB is formed along the forward portion of the spur I2, and this edge is disposed perpendicular to the tread I I. v'Ihe rear edge of the spur I2 is also sharpened, as indicated at I'I, and this edge is preferably disposed at an' angle to the tread II, thereby causing the s'pur to tilt forwardly, for reasons to be hereinafter explained. i

The inner terminal of .the thread II is upwardly and outwardly turned, as indicated, fto provide a holding flange I8, and this flange has a strap-receiving eye formed therein. By this arrangement, the spur I2 and upwardly turned flange I8 are located at one terminal ofthe tread I'I, and the opposed terminal of the tread is welded or otherwise secured to the lower terminal of a strip of thinnervmaterial, which forms the shank 22 of the climber. By this arrangement, the terminal of the tread II which is remote from the spur I2 is thickened or reinforced, as indicated at 2|, and the shank 22 then extends rearwardly and upwardly from Ithe tread I I, and has a loop 23 formed adjacent its upper terminal. This loop is preferably formed by stamping it outwardly from the upper terminal of the shank 22, as best seen in Figs. l, 2, and 3, although it is to be understood that the loop may be otherwise formed. The portion of the shank 22 which lies between the tread I I and the loop 23 is preferably outwardly bowed, as indicated at 25, and the upper terminal of the shank 22 is turned outwardly, as indicated at 26.

A strap-receiving recess or eye 21 is formed in the lower portion of the shank 22 adjacent its forward edge, and this eye is preferably arranged opposite the eye 20 formed in the upwardly turned flange I8 of the tread I I.

A securing strap extends through the opposed eyes 2 and 21, and the terminals of this strap are secured together by a buckle 3|, as best seen in Figs. 2 and 6. Another securing strap 32 'passes through the loop 23 formed adjacent the upper terminal of the shank 22, and the terminals of .this strap are preferably secured together by a buckle 33, Whichis best seen in Fig. 5.

The climbing irons I 0 are provided in pairs, each pair including a right iron and a left iron. In use the tread I I of a climbing iron is passed under the instep portion of the shoe of the user in engagement with the sole, and then the instep strap 30 is tightened and finally secured by the buckle 3l Inasmuch as the lower portion of the shank 22 of each climbing iron IU is offset forwardly, the upper portion 22 of the shank is disposed substantially in alignment with the leg of the user, and the strap receiving loop 23 is positioned adjacent the users ankle. The shank 22 of the iron III is secured to the users ankle, o r ankle covering, by means of the strap 32, and the buckle 33. When the right and left climbing irons I0 are secured in place on the users feet, the shanks 22 are disposed at the outer sides of the feet and the spurs I2 are located at .their inner sides, as best seen in Fig. 5. Inasmuch as the spur I2 in each climber I0 is located at one side of the foot,

the upper terminal of the shank 22 is secured to the ankle by the strap 32, it is manifest that the stresses imparted to the shank 22 by the engagement of the spur I2 with the tree, pole or other support, and with the weight of the user resting on .the tread I I, the shank 22 tends to move outwardly away from the users foot and leg, but this tendency of the shank 22 to move outwardly is resisted by the strap 32. Inasmuch asthe strap 32 extends around the ankle of the user, it is obvious that the stresses imparted to the strap through the shank 22 are distributed around the inner -portion of the users ankle, thereby preventing excessive stress being applied to a small portion of the ankle. In this arrangement, the shank tends, as stated, to move outwardly away from the users ankle or leg, and since the intermediate I portion of the shank 22 is outwardly bowed, as

indicated at 25, no portion of the shank engages the users shoe or leg under excessive stress during the climbing operation.

During the climbing operation fthe users weight is supported by the tread I I and spur I2 which are formed of relatively thick material to safely carry the load. Inasmuch as the supporting spur.4 I2 is located at the inner side of the foot, the users weight tends to throw the shank 22 out? wardly away from the foot and ankle, but the outward movement of the shankis restricted -by the strap 32. 'I'his tends to bend or break the climber iron I0 at the junction between the tread I I and shank 22. but since this portion of the-device is reinforced or thickened, it is manifest that this tendency is restricted by the reinforcement 2|.

In climbing trees, poles and the like, the person climbing usually kicks downwardly and forwardly, and inasmuch as the V-shaped spur I2 extends forwardly, it oiers less resistance in entering the tree or support. The shank 2,2 is located somewhat behind the tread II, and since the downwardly-tapered spur I1 is inclined forwardly, its axis or intermediate portion lies in a plane that passes through the point at which the strap 32 engages the loop 23 of the shank 22, as indicated by the dotted line 35 in Figure 3, so that some of the thrust is resisted by the strap 32 without moving the shank relative to the strap. The outer edges I 6 and I'I of the spur' are sharpened to taper outwardly, and the lower sharpened terminal I5 is also tapered.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that applicant has provided a relatively light and small climbing iron which is easily and conveniently secured to the shoe and ankley of the user, and which is constructed and arranged to provide maximum safety in climbing. It also protects the user against discomfort or 'injury by its use, inasmuch as its shank tends to move away from the users foot and ankle when the weight of the user is supported on the spur I2 and tread II. The improved climbing iron is of minimum weight, because the stress receiving portions are formed of relatively heavy or thick material, and the shank or retaining portion is formed of relatively thin or light material.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is:

l. A climber including a tread adapted to engage the instep portion of the shoe sole of the user, a shank extending upwardly from one ter-V minai of the tread at the outer side of the shoe and bowed outwardlyl away from the shoe, the upper terminal of the shank being outwardly and the shank 22 at the opposite side, and since turned, a spur extending downwardly from the opposed terminal of the tread at the inner side of the shoe, means for securing the tread to the shoe, and means for securing the upper portion of the shank to the leg of the user.

2. A climber including a tread adapted to er1- gage the insteplportionhof the shoe sole of the user, a shank extending upwardly from one terminal of the tread at the outer side of the shoe, a tapered spur extending downwardly and forwardly from the opposed terminal of the tread at the inner side of the shoe, means for securing the tread to the shoe, and means for securing the shank to the leg ofthe user.

3. A climber including a tread adapted to engage the instep portion of the shoe sole of the y user, a shank extending upwardly from one terminal of the tread at the outer side of the shoe,

ga tapered spur extending downwardly and forwardly from the opposed terminal of the tread at the inner side of the shoe, means for securing the tread to the shoe, and means for securing the shank to the leg of. the user, the axis or intermediate portion of the spur being located in a plane that passes through the point at which the shank is secured to the leg of the user so that the thrust of the spur is resisted by the saidl leg securing means.

4. A climber including a tread adapted to engage the instep portion of the shoe sole of the user, a shank extending upwardly and rearwardly from one terminal of the tread at the outer side of the shoe, a tapered spurextending downwardly yand forwardly from the opposed terminal of the tread at the inner side of the shoe,

meansfor securing the tread to the shoe, and.

means for securing the shank to the leg of the `v user, the axis or intermediate portion of the spur being located in a plane that passes through the point at which the shank is secured to the leg of the user so that the thrust of the spur is resisted by the said leg securing means.

ROBERTI L. WOODBURY. 

